Chill Out With These Summer Beach Wines

These wines are fly when your friends stop by the beach for the summer.

By Fiona Adams

When packing up the cooler to head to the beach do not make the mistake of forgetting a bottle of wine. Chill out and channel your inner beach-bum with these perfect pours for soaking up sun and sand. There is nothing quite like settling into a chair in the sand with a glass of wine while listening to the crashing waves.

Domaine Sainte-Marie 2015 Vievité Rosé (Côtes de Provence); $20. This classic Provençal rosé has delicate aromas of fresh strawberries, pink grapefruit and sea shells, the latter perfectly matching the serene calm of a beach setting. Sea salt and lime zest are joined by grapefruit, ripe peach and rose petals on the palate.

Meinklang 2015 Prose Rosé (Burgenland); $17. Packed with intense notes of fresh strawberry and raspberry, the refreshing spritz and vein of limey acidity keep this wine light on the palate. Juicy and refreshing, it is thirst quenching and pairs well with an array of beachy snacks.

Zorzal Eggo 2015 Blanc de Cal (Tupungato); $18. This Sauvignon Blanc shines with notes of cantaloupe, red grapefruit and lime, balanced by accents of crushed rocks and beach grass. The palate is generous and broad, leading with honeydew and lime flavors that are supported by intense notes of shale and wet rock.

We’ve also reached to gather a few bonus picks from the staff and editors around the Wine Enthusiast offices.

Folk Machine 2015 White Light (California); $17. An unusual blend of Friulano, Riesling, and Verdelho results in a white wine greater than the sum of its parts. The Fruilano brings nice savory, salty notions to the party while the Riesling adds pretty aromas and the Verdelho, freshness. The light bulb-festooned label reminds you it’s a wine that’s a bright idea for the beach. Especially considering it’s 11.9-percent abv.—Senior Digital Editor Jameson Fink

Eichinger 2015 Wechselberg Grüner Veltliner (Kamptal); $20.Refreshment is clutch on a sweltering day on the sand, and Grüner Veltliner is an irrefutable thirst-slaker. A medium-bodied wine with great minerality and firm acidity yet easy going enough for daytime. The gorgeous stone fruit and lemon zest flavors make it a great companion to many beach snacks, from watermelon to paninis in bikinis.—Tasting Coordinator Carrie Dykes

As Laxas 2015 Albariño (Rías Baixas); $22. Situated in the northwest corner of Spain on the Atlantic coastline, white wines from the Galicia region are inherently suited to beachside enjoyment. Crisp, vibrant selections made from Albariño offer brisk notes of citrus, firm stone fruits and melon rind that are accented by notes of minerality and salinity, all perfectly poised to offer refreshment and enjoyment. As Laxas’ Albariño is a consistent winner, and will pair masterfully with any seafood you manage to bring along for your day of fun in the sun.—Tasting Director/Senior Editor Lauren Buzzeo

Ameztoi 2015 Rubentis (Getariako Txakolina); $22. Bringing crisp, bright notes of strawberry, pink grapefruit and raspberry, this rosé from the Basque region is anchored by solid acidity and a burst of lime that may make you rethink margaritas as your go-to beach beverage. Characteristic of most Txakoli, this wine is low in alcohol (11-percent abv) and residual carbonation gives it a mild, refreshing spritz. It’s the perfect wine to drink in the sun, and won’t make you regret your indulgence the next morning.—Assistant Digital Editor Dylan Garret

Reviews wines from Other U.S.
Fiona Adams’ excitement for wine was sparked at a young age by her father. Working in a handful of New York City wine shops and a stint in Long Island wine country, she developed her wine knowledge, eventually earning her Level 2 WSET certification. Joining Wine Enthusiast in 2014, Fiona hopes to share her passion for natural wines.
Email: fadams@wineenthusiast.net